Traveling worktable and supply rack



Nov. 19, 1935. H. A. GREEN 2,021,505

TRAVELING WORKTABLE AND SUI PLY RACK Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet1 HIM m k. INVENTOR.

ARRY A. GREEN A TTORNEYS.

1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 19, 1935. H, A. GREEN TRAVELING WORKTABLE ANDSUPPLY RACK Filed Nov. 50,

Nov. 19, 1935. H. A. GREEN 2,021,505

TRAVELING WORKTABLE AND SUPPLY RACK Filed Nov. 50, 1934 I 5 Sheets-Sheet5 F1 5. J/W INVENTOR. q HARR YA. GREEN M WM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES tenses:

FATENT Q-F-F-IQE TRAVELING WORKTABLE AND SUPPLY RACK 5 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyor apparatus and more particularly to atype which renders possible continuous flow production of variousarticles of manufacture and particularly furniture.

One of the-principal objects of the invention is the provision ofapparatus of this character which may be arranged and operated in acontinuous tortuous path either from end to end or side to side of abuilding or from one building to or through any number of others.Moreover, the apparatus is likewise equally adaptable tointercommunicate between buildings or floor spaces of different levels,whereby articles being dealt with may be conveyed from floor to floorthroughout the height of a building. Likewise the work, being handled bythe conveyor may be directed to pass a permanent inspectors stationwhich greatly facilitates inspecting the work as compared withconventional conveyors of the so called straight line type wherein theinspector or supervisor is compelled to follow the work from end to endthereof to observe the condition of the articles in their various stagesof manufacture.

Another object is the provision of means for causing the apparatus totravel smoothly at all speeds with no operating pulsations whatever inthe operating mechanisms and particularly the power transmission meansfor the traveling tables upon which the work is conveyed.

Still another object is the provision of means enabling a workman toaccomplish a maximum days work with a minimum amount offatigue. Thissame means-enabling a workman to remain at his permanent station towhich all necessary supplies are conveyed .and brought within hisconvenient reach.

By arranging the apparatus, as above pointed out, through apredetermined course, the articles may be conveyed over what might betermed an idle portion where sufiicient traveling time is allotted themfor spray painting, drying, etc.

A still further object of the: invention is the provision of means forregulating the operating r: speed of the conveyor, which may varyaccording to the work being dealt with, from approximately eighteeninches to eighteen feet per minute. Throughout its entire operativespeed range a minimum of power is required due to the provision of newand novel power transmissionmeans working in conjunction with sheavesrelatively large in diameter to provide low degree curves at the turnsto thus reduce the bending stresses on the conveyor cable. These curvesare also made cars to negotiate the turns over or around the sheaves,which sheaves .are provided on their upper surfaces with a circularcarrying plateto receive the cars as they leave one of the tracks whichis arranged tangentially of the sheave at 5- its approach and departure.

One of the other important features of the invention is the provision ofmeans for tightening the operating cables in the direction of theirlength and providing extensible joints in the 10" Figure 3 is afragmentary end elevation of the upper portion of- Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrow in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary viewof a typical section of trackused inmy conveyor, and showing particularly the extensible joints inthe 30 track.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing in top plan one of thepivots upon which the sheaves are rotatably mounted, and also showing inasso-- ciation therewith, adjusting means for tightening the conveyorcable in the direction of its length.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of Figure 5, and in this view is also showna'portion of the track supported by the structure.

Figure '7is a side: elevation of the pivot and its channel formation.These tracks are held in proper spaced relation with respect to eachother at regular intervals by ties or transverse members 4. At thesesame points, legs or supports are provided and are secured at theiruppermost ends to the ties 4. To stabilize the tracks I provide struts 6which are secured to the under side of the tracks as at I and to thelegs as at 8. To each of the ties 4 I rotatably mount a pulley 9 bymeans of brackets I!) to support .an endless cable I I which runscentrally of the track and on substantially the same plane therewiththroughout its length.

As previously pointed out, the conveyor may be arranged in any directionand through any degrees of .a circle in view of certain new and novelinstrumentalities to be more fully hereinafter pointed out. At each ofthe turns regardless of its degree, I provide sheaves l2 which may be ofa single or double flanged type and which are in the form of a wheel l3provided on its upper surface with a carrying plate l4 which rotateswith the wheel. The surface of this carrying plate lies in the sameplane with that of the track. The outer periphery of each sheave isformed with a cable receiving groove I5 which also lies substantialy inthe same plane as that of the track and which is adapted to receive thecable tangentially from the center of the track. This also means thatthe periphery of the sheave is tangentially in alignment with the centerline of the track. These sheaves are rotatably mounted on shafts I6which, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, are mounted on supporting structures,generally indicated at IT. Each of the these supporting structuresconsists of a base l8 of channel formation provided at each of its endswith transverse angle bars 19 which extend beyond the side walls of thebase it. Superimposed upon the base I8 is a superstructure 20 supportinga bearing plate 2| upon which one surface of the sheave is rotatablysupported. The uppermost end of the shaft I6 is provided with anysuitable form of retaining disc, or its equivalent, for maintaining thesheave on the shaft.

This sheave supporting structure is associated with the adjusting, orcable tightening mechanism which consists of two channel members 23 and24 which are held apart in parallel spaced relation with respect to eachother by means of angle bars 25. The spacing between the channel members23 and 24 is substantialy equal to the width of the base member if:which is adapted to be slidably embraced by these channel members insuch a position that the overhanging portions of the angle bars l9,disposed at opposite ends of the base, may ride upon the top flanges ofthe channel members 23 and 24, while the sides of the base member iiiare slidably disposed between the channel members 23 and 24.

To one leg of one of the angle bars I9 I rigidly secure an internallythreaded nut 26 which is adapted to threadedly receive an elongatedthreaded shaft 2'! which extends through a collar 28 which is secured tothe upright leg of the angle bar 2'5, and terminates in an actuatinghead 29, which is provided with recesses 30 to receive a rod or the like(not shown) for actuating purposes. Upon rotation of the threaded shaft27 by means of its head 29, either in a clockwise or anti-clockwisedirection, the shaft will advance or retard through the nut 26 and.cause an advancing or retarding of the sheave supporting structurelengthwise of the channel members 23 and 24, which are of course securedto the floor by any suitable means such, for'instance as, lag screws,bolts or the like.

The tracks 2 and 3, as previously pointed out, are superimposed abovethe sheave supporting structure just described and are thus supported 5by means of standards 3 l, 32, 33 and 34, by mounting to, and extendingupwardly from, a pair of longitudinally parallel channel members 35 and36 which are secured to the superstructure 253 by means of bolts or thelike as at til, the standard 1 32 being mounted to the base i 8 by meansof one of the angle bars i9 transversely disposed thereon. By thisarrangement it is apparent that in the adjusting operations the trackand sheave support will move together as a unit.

To permit simultaneous take-up of the cable and the track, I provideextensible joints in the tracks generally indicated at 38 which consistof an enlarged portion 39 of one track of suffipient width to slidablysupport the end of the companion track, as best illustrated in Figure 4.

Any one of the sheave supporting structures may be provided with thetake-up mechanism where its use would be most effective in tighteningthe cable, but in such places throughout the system where the take-upmechanism is not required, a single standard, as shown in Figure 7 maybe used.

Power transimssion means for driving the cable and the sheaves isprovided through the use of any suitable form of prime mover, such forinstance, as an electric motor 40 which is operatively connected throughany suitable driving mechanism, such for instance, as a pulley 4i andbelt 42, with any approved form of speed reducing mechanism 43, which inturn drives a further train of reduction gears, preferably of the wormand worm gear type, located as at 4-4 and suitably enclosed in anyapproved form of greasetight housing. Rotatably mounted upon the housing44 and extending upwardly therefrom is a Vertical shaft 45 operativelyengaged at its lowermost end with the driven gear within the housing 44.The shaft 45 performs the function of a drive shaft for the entireconveyor system. 45 At the track level, the shaft 45, which might betermed the driving shaft, is operatively engaged with one of the sheaves46, which drives the remainder of the sheaves by means-of the endlesscable H, which operatively embraces all of the sheaves. The shaft 45continues on upwardly from the sheave 46, as shown in Figure 2, and isprovided at its uppermost end with a driving sprocket wheel 41, to behereinafter more fully described. 65 Upon the tracks 2 and 3 I provide aplurality of traveling work tables 48 which consist of a car 49 havingcasters 5% which run along the tracks 2 and 3. Upon the main body of thecar 49 I pivotally mount a platform or work table 5! which may berotated through 360 degrees of a circle in any direction. Theseplatforms carry the work being dealt with and greatly facilitatehandling of the work by the workman since the articles may be readilyrotated from end to end in either direction to render easy access to allof its sides. These cars are arranged in predetermined spaced relationand are con nected with the tracks by means of a drag-link 52. Thesecars and their connections with the cables, etc., are best shown anddescribed in my United States Patent No. 1,928,934, dated October 3,1933 and entitled Traveling work tables. As pointed out in the objects.of the invention, I provide an overhead system of traveling supplyracks which are synchronized in their: travel with the travelingwork.tablesso that eaich'table and the workman stationed at its=side*will!have within convenientfireach: a supplyof materials:

To accomplish this end I ar-range an" overhead track 53 whichparallelsthe. conveyor tracks. 2 and 3 throughout theirlength. Thetrack: 53

is of I- beam construction to rotatably receive horizontally disposedrollers 54 which by means of downwardly extending brackets 55 aresecured to a chain 56 and are held in proper spaced relation therewith.Immediately below each of said brackets I swingably suspend a supplyrack 51 consisting of a tray open at one of its ends and formed withside walls 58 and 59, and a back wall 60. The trays are secured to thechain 55 immediately below the brackets 55 by means of hanger straps 6!.These straps may be loosely mounted to the chain 56, or they may be madeof sufficiently resilient material to allow them to flex as they followthe course of the track.

The chain 56 operatively embraces a plurality of sprocket wheels 62which are located and pivotally mounted above each of the sheaves.Immediately above the sheave 45, however, two of these sprocket wheelsare provided to accommodate a driving mechanism for the operation of thechain. This driving mechanism consists of a sprocket wheel 53 secured tothe driving sprocket wheel 64. The sprocket wheel 63 and its relatedparts are driven by the sprocket wheel ll through the medium of asprocket chain 66, as previously pointed out. The sprocket wheel 4'! iskeyed or otherwise secured to the uppermost end of the drive shaft 45 sothat upon rotation of this shaft, corresponding rotation will beimparted to the sprocket wheel 64 with a resultant travel or operationof the entire supply rack chain 55. All of the overhead sprocket wheels62 and 64 may be suitably rotatably mounted to, and suspended from, anyapproved form of overhead structure consisting of conventionallongitudinal and transverse beams.

While I have shown my conveyor system laid out in a single horizontalplane, it is to be understood that the system may be directed from onefloor level to another or through any number of different levels. Thismay be readily accomplished by reason of the novel relation of thetracks and conveyor to the sheaves. With the sheaves arranged in ahorizontal plane as shown, it is obvious that the system may be arrangedand extended through any degrees of a circle by reason of the tangentialapproach and de parture of the tracks and cable to the sheaves.Likewise, by these same characteristics the system may be, as aforesaidarranged to extend through different levels of operation by tilting thesheaves to either side.

As an aid to directing the cars, or rather their caster wheels from thecarrying plate of each sheave back onto the track I extend the outsideflange of the track as indicated at 69 and curve it outwardly as shownto function as a deflector in directing the caster wheels back on thetrack. It is to be understood, of course, that any form of deflector maybe used whether it is an integral part of the track or an accessorythereto.

Referring to Figure 1, I provide an endless cable 59A to rotatablyembrace two opposed sheaves within the system. This cable serves as anequalizer by absorbing any operating pulsations which would otherwiseoccur. in; the sys tem: mount-arr adgiustabl'e idling ortightening.pulley indicated at 19. This pulley is pivotally mounted t'o-a fork- Hwhich issecured' to one end of a threaded shaft-l2; The threaded shaftis threadedly supported by an-angle bar l3 mounted on a support? 74, andis-provided with a lockenut '35 for securing the shaft in any of itsadjusted positions; The bracket is secured to the floor, or it may bemounted to any convenient part of the structure of the conveyor system.

While I have shown a particular form of my invention, I am aware thatmany minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to othersskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a conveyor having an endless track, an endless cable runningparallel with and centrally of the track, rotatably mounted groovedsheaves operatively embraced by said cables, one wall of said groovesbeing wider than the other Midway between, the sheaves I rotatably.

wall thereof to permit the cable to maintain its central position withrespect to the tracks, carrying plates disposed upon the upper surfaceof said sheaves, said tracks adapted to guide the cars onto said sheavesand to receive them after their passage thereover, and means associatedwith said track for directing the wheels of the cars thereonto afterpassing over said sheaves.

2. In a conveyor having endless track and cars movable therealong, anendless cable running parallel with and centrally of the track,rotatably mounted grooved sheaves operatively embraced by said cables,one wall of said groove being wider than the other wall thereof topermit the cable to maintain its central position with respect to thetracks, one of said tracks uninterrupted throughout its length, theother of said tracks being discontinued at points adjacent the peripheryof the sheaves, carrying-plates disposed upon the upper surface of saidsheaves, said tracks adapted to guide the cars onto said sheaves and toreceive them after their passage thereover.

3. In a conveyor having an endless track and cars movable therealong, anendless cable running parallel with and centrally of the track, clampingmeans for connecting the cars with the cable, a plurality of rotatablymounted sheaves operatively embraced by said cable, a groove formedaround the periphery of each of said sheaves, one wall of said groovebeing wider than the other wall thereof to permit passage of the carclamping means around said sheaves to thereby maintain the cablecentrally of the track, carrying-plates disposed upon the upper surfaceof said sheaves, said tracks adapted to guide the cars onto said sheavesand to receive them after their passage thereover, and cable tighteningmeans interposed between certain of the sheaves.

4.111 a conveyor having endless track and cars movable therealong, anendless cable clamped to the cars and running parallel with andcentrally of the track, rotatably mounted grooved sheaves operativelyembraced by said cables, one wall of said grooves being wider than theother wall thereof to permit the cable to maintain its central positionwith respect to the tracks, one of said tracks uninterrupted throughoutits length, the other of said tracks being discontinued at pointsadjacent the periphery of the sheaves, said tracks adapted to guide thecars onto said sheaves and to receive them after their passagethereover.

5. In a conveyor having endless track and cars movable therealong, anendless cable attached to the cars and running parallel with andcentrally of the track, rotatably mounted grooved sheaves operativelyembraced by said cables, one

10 Wall of said grooves being wider than the other wall thereof topermit the cable to maintain its central position with respect to thetracks, one of said tracks uninterrupted throughout its length, theother of said tracks being discontinued at points adjacent the peripheryof the sheaves, said tracks adapted to guide the cars onto said sheavesand to receive them after their passage thereover, said cars beingprovided with freely rotatable work supporting means.

HARRY A. GREEN.

